Tyson Marquez-Edrin Dapudong Set, Mayol Injures Hand

By Rafael Soto

Hermosillo, Son - A vibrant new chapter has been set in the "war" between Mexicans and Filipinos in world championship fights. Live on Saturday July 2 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Edrin Dapudong will challenge the flyweight champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA), Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, in a card called "Mexico vs. Philippines" which is promoted by Zanfer and takes place at the Multipurpose Center of the Sonoran capital and will be broadcast by TV Azteca.

Edrin "The Sting" Daupudong (23-3-0, 13 KOs) went to Tepic in May 2010 and in one round to knock the Mexican Jesus "Destroyer" Jiménez. He also held the WBO Asian Eastern and Pacific Crown. Among his victims include the likes of Bert Batawang, Julius Alcos and Jack Amis. Currently, the Philippines boxer is ranked number 13 on the list of WBA challengers at flyweight.

The resistance of the Dapudong is remarkable, as his only three losses have come by way of points, including one against former world champion Muhammad Rachman in 2008 and another to tough silver champion Wilbert Uicab in 2010. The other defeat was suffered early in his career.

24-year-old Dapudong represents a serious threat to the newly crowned "Tyson" Marquez (30-2-0, 23 KOs), who captured the world title in April in Panama - with an eleventh round knockout of Luis "Nica" Concepcion in "a war" which provided a candidate for Fight of The Year and Round of The Year.

"It's a great opportunity presented to me in a great moment in my career I am always training and ready. I know the champion, I saw his fight with Concepcion. He is tough, hard-hitting, very brave, but I also I have many attributes. I am a Filipino warrior and I have enough to knock out Tyson. I regret that I am going to spoil the party for the fans in his homeland on July 2," said Dapudong.

"Tyson" Marquez was preparing to face a compatriot of Dapudong, former world champion Rodel Mayol, who injured his hand in sparring, so the backup came from the same Asian nation.

"I'll be ready for the challenger. Nobody will take away my title, which took years of effort to obtain for my people of Sonora. Hopefully the Filipino comes to fight like a warrior," Marquez said.

The function will also be backed by the best boxing prospects in Sonora, like David "Tornado" Sanchez, Rogelio "Porky" Medina, Jorge "Tigre" Pimentel, Juan Francisco Estrada, Carlos Fontes, Ramon Aviles and Mario Villela.

Tickets are on sale in Hard News and Onda Latina and Hermosillo, and priced at 800 pesos ringside, $600, 250 pesos and 100 pesos.